Fabian Bedne Reflections by Meredith McGinnis https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat "How can formative personal experiences drive community service?" en-us 2018-02-13 17:50:41 UTC 2023-01-24 04:45:54 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Thunder.png Reid https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231228244 Personal experience is what drives many people to do what they do in life. My grandmother was a schoolteacher when she worked, and taught my father the importance of education for the younger generation. Mr. Bedne, while not having a simple experience like a parent teaching important values, had something similar happen to him. He witnessed his bother's death and his school's books being burned because they simply were opposed to his government. This taught him the importance of justice and rights in the modern world, and drove him to becoming a council member. ]]> 2018-02-13 18:57:33 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231228244 Joshua Brown joshbrown48 https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231228697 As people go through life, we all experience different things that shape us to be the people who we are. At times when we go through these struggles, we know how it feels and wouldn't want anybody else to experience them, encouraging us to give back in any way we can. Fabian Bedne is an example of how a personal life experience can drive work and community service in a different direction. As Bedne grew up in communist Argentina, there was no doubt that militaries were a leading cause for death, often targeting groups racially or politically. Though he has no proof, what was common at this time in the mid 70's is the certain death of his brother.  With this large impact in his life from personal experiences due to his past life in Argentina, Bedne has a drive to do what he feels is right in his community. With those who are inspired to go back based off of personal experiences such as Bedne, they are the people who don't stop until change is made which is what we need in times where our nation is divided.]]> 2018-02-13 18:58:13 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231228697 Desha Ann Matthews https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230320 A person with personal experiences that connect with community service, and power to all people can relate more, and truly fulfil the goals they want to achieve to better the lives of the people in the shadows. A person with no personal experiences may not work as hard when times get tough. They will not push for what they want and sacrifice for it. All this because they have no deep roots or passion holding them up to that "mission." That being said someone with a drive and personal story for a situation is more likely to work and sacrifice when times are tough and seem impossible. To make sure they give it their all no matter what, and a person like this will change things even if it seems the opposite or takes time it will come to pass. And that is exactly what we need in a time where everyone wants things to happen quickly and cant wait for the process. Process is how true change happens and sticks. A great example of this is Fabian Bednes, his story of living in Argentina and experiencing the controlling government; along with a loss of a brother with no trials against it has made for a strong and great man. His past and life drive him to protect the people that are not seen or heard and to make changes no matter how long or how many sacrifices he has to make. His passion helps grow the minds of others that way his personal experiences drive others and drive community service.]]> 2018-02-13 19:01:00 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230320 Alexander Daniel https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230499 Formative personal experiences can build onto community service in several ways, creating a stronger initiative to take part in such helpful actions.  For example, Fabian Bedne, our recent guest speaker and Metro councilman, mentions that his inspiration for the work he does in our local community is driven by the unexpected loss of his brother Dario, who was "disappeared while serving as a military draftee in Buenos Aires," nearly forty years ago.  Since his unfortunate loss, Fabian uses his personal experience as fuel to take on the tasks of being a council man, and to better the lives of others who do not have a similar platform as he.  He stands up for what he believes is morally right, and is truly changing our local society by giving a voice to those in need.  In addition to this incident, Fabian is driven by the hostile environment of the Argentinian government, and wishes to create the opposite atmosphere here in Nashville.  Fabian states that "the government was intent on domesticating people and limiting a political [transformations]," showing how aggressive tensions were, and truly, how controlling the government in Argentina was.  It allowed for no personal input, and did not give it's citizens the voice they deserve.  So as a result, Fabian Bedne works each day to provide Nashvillians with the fundamental human rights that they are ultimately due.]]> 2018-02-13 19:01:19 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230499 Amy https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230612 Personal experiences form people's perspectives and ideals. People then project those thoughts through their actions and emotions in their daily lives. In Fabian's case he stated what enabled him to participate in the city council was due to what he had experienced in Argentina. These experiences include the tragedy that happened with his brother and the constant reminders of the oppressive government. Because he felt that what his home country's government was doing was corrupt but he wasn't able to do anything about it, when he came to America he took the opportunity to use his freedom of opinion in creation to his own power. ]]> 2018-02-13 19:01:30 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230612 Kim https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230658 Personal experiences can be and are the driving motivation for people to get involved in their community. Like Fabian Bedne had said, his main reason for running for city council was to make sure what happened in Argentina wouldn't happen here. He knew the impact of the dictatorship personally, and it is a strong force for his current involvement. Rather than someone choosing to get involved because of their "good intentions" or even wanting to feel good about themselves, someone who has experienced something negative (or positive) will have a greater effect on their community and influence change, because they know and won't allow for the same experience to happen again to others.]]> 2018-02-13 19:01:33 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230658 Trish Nguyen n_trish00 https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230822 Personal experiences can shape community services in many ways. Fabian Bedne is a great example of that. Throughout his life in Argentina, he was under the corrupt government. His brother's disappearance had shaken him to his core that he even teared up when talking to our class 40 years later. That pushed him  to strive for a stronger contribution to the local government when he moved to the states. Because of his "weak voice" in Argentina, he is still pushing for minorities to have a strong voice. Bedne's political power now can help so many people speak up on social injustices and that was because of his past experiences with oppression.
Fabian has also used his experiences with the law and protesting to realize that affordable housing is a need in Nashville and in Ohio. He set up many bills that were urged to be passed and many went through. Because he stood up against a soldier with a gun in his face, he isn't afraid to stand up against a scary politician. His experiences made him "fight battles that no one else have fought," and that's what makes anyone's contribution unique.
Any experience can turn into motivation to do something amazing.]]> 2018-02-13 19:01:48 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230822 Moses Miller https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230945 Fabian's life and how it shows his perspective in his life about his brother and he never saw him again, he never got a trail, and never got mentioned. He uses that grief to  be something more. After that he pursued to become a city council and work with human rights. Fabian reminds me of MLK and how he fought also human rights and he "fought battles that no one else fought. Both of these people went into a corrupt government that forces people to do their needs. But that didn't stop them. they push minorities to help use their voice and guide them to freedom. ]]> 2018-02-13 19:02:01 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231230945 Zach https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231231486 Personal experiences can be very influential in the future of someone's life. That sometimes drives you to community service and definitely influences what it is and how you carry it out. The death of Fabian's brother made him much more in tune with giving everyone a chance and the idea of fairness in itself. Also just the nature of the dictatorship he grew up in made him realize how important having a voice was, which explains why he now fights so hard for marginalized people and those who have been "left behind" by our society in a sense.]]> 2018-02-13 19:02:43 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231231486 Moriah Pettiford https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231231597 Formative personal experiences can drive community service because it makes the community service you do more personal. For instance, Fabian Bedne became part of the city council because his brother was kidnapped when he was just 16 and never seeing him again then having to come to the conclusion that his brother was indeed kidnapped and tortured until he died and having no trial in hopes of finding him or getting justice. We can tell by the way he talked about all the incidents he went through in Argentina being when he was stopped on the way from gym and told to put on pants in the middle of the street or when he decided to protest and police officers used integration methods to scare the protesters into doing what they wanted that power and civil rights are very important to him and it's what drives him everyday do his duty as a council member and show people how to acknowledge the power we all have. ]]> 2018-02-13 19:02:52 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231231597 Patricyonna https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231231975 Fabian Bedne had a life of no other. Growing up in Argentina, while the government was stringent and restrictive of basic human freedoms, caused him to experience things that would change his perspective and shape his life choices forever. As a teenager, his brother was kidnapped which caused him and his family to live in fear and question everyone around them. His brother has still not been found. There was not a trial or any justice done, and Fabian had to progress through life seeing the injustice while dealing with the heartache over the loss of his brother. The hard times did not stop there however, Fabian continued to deal with Argentina government. Today, Fabian is a city council worker in Nashville, TN. His personal experiences from dealing with the loss of his brother or the injustice of the Argentina government drives him forward to do the work that he does. He works hard to make sure that citizens of Nashville voices are hard because he remembers the time in which his voice was not heard. He protests and stands for what he believes in because he knows what it is like to not have a voice and to not have freedom. He is the perfect example of why our personal experiences drive community service. He is giving back to the community because he knows what it is like to be neglected and to not have anyone give back to him. Therefore just as the great philosopher Francis Bacon informed us," The life that we live shapes who we are." ]]> 2018-02-13 19:03:14 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231231975 Audrey Tsague https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231231997 Person Experiences are what shape a person physically and emotionally, but it is what you do with those experiences that can change a community for the better. Mr. Bedne, born and raised in Argentina, is one of those whom has a past not most can relate to. From living in fear of abduction, losing his brother so abruptly, and not being able to confine in anyone with fear of being taken as well. Mr. Bedne faced trials and tribulations such as marching in protest to reclaim his country's freedom, although fearful at first. He can proudly say that he did something for the greater good. Alas, his past experiences weighed so heavily on him that he could not stand seeing minorities have no power when he first came to the US. Emotionally, he felt connected to those people having too been in a place of feeling powerless. That is why, with all he knew, he could not leave knowing that those people had no one to advocate for them, his purpose in the world was found. Physically, Mr. Bedne was eligible to make a change, being an educated adult. So, he had a leap of faith and ran for City Council. Since in office he has done so many positive things that would have not happened had he not been here. Therefore, Formative personal experience can drive community service as those who can familiarize themselves in a certain situation will feel a gravitational pull towards it, and will fight tooth and nail to better the situation because maybe it wasn't better for them. There are many ways one can do such things: the belief in themselves, the motivation, and the fire inside them to never stop. So they wont.]]> 2018-02-13 19:03:16 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231231997 Eduardo https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231232913 Personal experiences drive us to do things, either for ourselves or for our community. Take Fabian Bedne's story of oppression and fear of the Argentina, for example. The man once was forced, along with a group of friends, to change into pants in the middle of the street on a hot day after playing soccer at a park. A government official saw them wearing shorts, which was illegal in Argentina at the time, and then proceeded in showing that he had absolute control over them by forcing them to change. Bedne's recollection of those days give him reason to do the things he does as a Nashville City Council member, setting up community meetings and fighting for new legislations and reforms for both his district and the City. Bedne's strive to do good in government and beliefs in Democracy have made him Nashville's first Latino-American on the council. ]]> 2018-02-13 19:04:08 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231232913 Jackie Vargas https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231233327 Fabian's personal experiences can drive community services in positive ways. Due to someone going through things at a young age there can be an effect on a person which would make them want to fight for things others wont. It brings passion to actions as well because of the strong want for change and the strong hope for no struggle within the community. He personally believes and feels as if everyone not only deserves to be heard but deserves to be thought of when higher powers are making changes that would affect the community. For him there's no such thing as needing to qualify for help. Things such as that are the reason any good is even brought upon people in any community.]]> 2018-02-13 19:04:20 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231233327 Dulce Garcia https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231233812 Fabian Bedne has shown us that personal experiences drive community service, he is an example of that. Because he is in the city council he wants to help many people. His personal experience was the fact that he never knew what happened to his brother they never got a case. I feel like he took that and since his and his families voice wasn't heard he wants to make that his service to the community and make sure he gives everyone a chance to speak their voice. He says  “The thing I always get asked is ‘Why did you run for office?’ It’s very hard for people to understand unless they know how I grew up." As a person he takes all of his personal experiences and with the type of voice he has is motivated to take a drive into bettering community services.]]> 2018-02-13 19:04:49 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231233812 Sydney https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231235356
Mr. Bedne showed that personal experiences help drive service by telling us of the motivation that living under a dictator gave him. In his early live he had almost no voice because of the strict military in Argentina, and his oppression drove him to help other oppressed people. If he had not gone through those difficult times, including the disappearance of his brother, he wouldn't have realized the needs other people have. One of the reasons we learn about history is to improve life in the future and not repeat mistakes that have been made, and learning from the past, we can see that helping others often helps ourselves. This question reminds me of the story of Esther (in the Bible), where Esther was able to escape persecution but risked her life to save the rest of her people who would suffer if she was silent.
]]> 2018-02-13 19:07:03 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231235356 Brianna Rubens https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231235369 when you go through something then you know exactly how it feels to experience that specific situation so you can help other people in that same situation because you know how it is to go through that. He knew what is felt like to be treated unfairly my his government. So now that he works in a government position, he knows how he wants to treat his people. 

If an individual we're to be inspired by someone's personal experiences that could also drive someone to better their community.

]]> 2018-02-13 19:07:05 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231235369 Emily Mai https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231235457 Personal experiences could affect the way someone sees the world in many different ways. Fabian Bedne endured the disappearance of his brother and had to deal with the fact that there was no trial to find out why. He said he was ashamed when he ran away during a protest while everyone sat down. He could have sought revenge for his brother but instead he used his experiences to attend protesting events and try to make the world a better place. He used his experiences to shine a light on the corrupt governments that exist and he believes that every one has an equal opportunity to say what they have to say and get what they deserve. He also told us that our opinion as whole is more powerful than any government and we should use that to get what we believe is right.]]> 2018-02-13 19:07:15 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231235457 Rogelio Cortez rogeliocortezcuevas https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231236265 In the early 1980s, Fabian Bedne had taken part in a student protest group at the University of Buenos Aires because of a military unit that had come to his university to burn books--which included subjects on architecture--that they deemed wouldn't complement the aims of the government. This initiative combined with previous events involving his brother led him to see the injustices that could come if no one stepped up. Although many might see community service as just another job, others might view it as a necessary force to keep those with more power in check. If no one says anything about how they dislike that something is happening to them,  then how are they expected to see any change?]]> 2018-02-13 19:08:29 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231236265 Josh Brown https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231242917 honestly who needs religion when you have J Cole he's basically God anyways. ]]> 2018-02-13 19:19:05 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231242917 Ari https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231242949
Personal experiences act as the driving force between many people's ambitions. Fabian is no exception.  Fabian's experiences living under the oppressive Peronist regime are what inspired him to run for the council. Fabian wants to make sure that what happened in Argentina doesn't happen here: unchecked government power and persecution. Although he can't end the U.S.' small, totalitarian tendencies, he can still work on a smaller scale and help his community.]]> 2018-02-13 19:19:10 UTC https://padlet.com/meredith_mcginnis/1l8zhqkeldat/wish/231242949